Cathodic Corrosion Protection

of earthburried Pipelines
www.vc-austria.com
Corrosion Problems?
Earthburried pipelines are usually expensive in-
vestments. In order to defend against the threat
of corrosion they are protected by coatings and
coverings. However, the smallest damage of the
coating or any cracks in the covering steadily lead
to the feared pitting corrosion.
Corrosion causes an electrochemical reaction
which leads to loss of metal. As a result pipelines
become leaky and can cause enormous damage
to property and environment.
Cathodic Corrosion Protection - the
Solution
Cathodic corrosion protection (CCP) belongs to
the oldest protection methods at all. V&C has
been working in the feld of cathodic protection of
earthburried structures since 1971. Today it is one
of the leading suppliers in Central Europe.
CCP as an active protection method attacks cor-
rosion - in contrast to passive protection methods
- at its roots. It is based on the connection bet-
ween the potential of steel and the corrosion rate.
Through installation of a negative protection cur-
rent the electrochemical potential of the pipeline is
brought to a stable passive state and the corrosion
process is stopped.
The high-quality-work of cathodic corrosion pro-
tection is regulated by numerous standards, gui-
delines and recommendations. Besides V&C col-
laborates actively with professional associations
such as the Austrian Association for Gas and
Water (OVGW) or the German Gas Association
(DVGW). Furthermore V&C has been working
according to the quality managementsystem ISO
9001 as well as the safety and environemental
managementsystem SCC (Safety Certifcate Con-
tractors) for many years.

So it is one of the most important tasks of a public
utility company to protect its assets for a prolonged
period of time, to extend the lifespan of the pipe-
line network and to minimize any repair works.
Corrosion damage of a pipeline
Conservation of Value
The expected lifespan of a pipeline network is, de-
pending on the transport medium, a minimum of
50 years. However, a pipeline should be functional
for up to 100 years. Cathodic corrosion protection
offers an optimum of safety and effciency becau-
se with a cathodic protection system pipelines can
be operated even in critical soils reliably.
Basics of Cathodic Corrosion Protec-
tion
Corrosion is always due to differences of potential
between metallic materials (e.g. pipelines) and its
environment. It is an electrochemical process that
leads to destruction of material on the metallic sur-
face. The oxydation process can be described by
the following formula:
Fe (metal) --> Fe
2+
(soil) + 2e
-
The base anode decomposes whereas the noble
cathode stays free of corrosion.
This process can be changed by applying electri-
cal voltage between metal and ground. The fol-
Rate of metal loss depending on the pipe-soil potential for different soil
types.


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Potential V vs CSE
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with CCP without CCP
0,9 0,8 0,7 0,6
0,0055
0,1
1
5
lowing illustration shows how the electrochemical
potential between metal and ground infuences
the corrosion rate. The graphs represent the dif-
ferent soil types.
It is clearly indicated that the corrosion rate les-
sens with increasing electrochemical potential,
whereas a corrosion rate of 10m per year is tech-
nically regarded as negligible.
In order to minimize loss of pipeline material it is
necessary to have a pipe-soil-potential of -0.75 to
-0.95 V (versus a copper/coppersulfat reference
electrode).
Highest Economic Effciency
Through application of a cathodic corrosion pro-
tection system the costs of maintenance for pipe-
line networks can be clearly reduced. A lower vul-
nerability of the plants allows longer maintenance
cycles and as a consequence the upkeep can be
cut in half.
The specifc costs of cathodic corrosion protection
depend on several factors. So it is not only the
lenghts of the pipeline or the network that is crucial
but also the age of the net and whether the pipe-
line has already been renewed or not.
In principle the costs for a cathodic protection sys-
tem run up to 4 - 15% of the total amount of the Cost comparison of corrosion damage vs cathodic protection


beginning of CCP
without cathodic protection
10 20 30 40
Time [years]
C
o
s
t
s

[

/
k
m
]
4.000
400
40
building costs for a pipeline system. This amount,
however, bears no relation to the costs of any re-
pair works or loss of production.
The economic effciency of cathodic corrosion pro-
tection is illustrated in the fgure above. It shows
that even an afterwards installed protection sys-
tem at existing pipelines leads to a reduction of the
costs of maintenance. A cathodic protection sys-
tem improves the operation of the network which
results in a greater safety and an avoidance of a
supply gap. Furthermore the lifespan of a pipeline
network can be doubled by using cathodic corro-
sion protection.
Macrocell Corrosion
Macrocell corrosion is caused similar to corrosi-
on of aeration cell by different resting potentials
at different places. In contrast to aeration cells the
differences of potential at macrocells are not due
to different grounds but to different metalic mate-
rials.
Everywhere where reinforced concrete structures
are in conjunction with metal pipelines macrocell
corrosion can occur.
Causes of Corrosion
Pipelines are corrosion-endangerd by an inter-
play of infuences like aggressive substances in
the soil, galvanic connectors or sulphate-reducing
bacterias in the ground. Basically it can be distin-
guished between four main causes that lead to
corrosion of metallic structures.
Aeration Cell Corrosion
The resting potential of steel in aerated soils (e.g.
sand) does not differ much from those in unaera-
ted soils (e.g. clay). But is there any vacancy in
the covering or coating of the pipeline which is in
contact with different soil types, a voltage gradient
occurs. This voltage gradient causes a corrosion
Pict. 1: Aeration cell on a metallic pipe
Steel in concrete has a potential that is several
100 mV more positive than those of earthburried
pipelines. Due to the big surface difference of the
reinforced concrete structure and the small pipe-
line vacancies severe corrosion damages can oc-
cur within few years. Ablation rates of up to one
millimeter per year are possible.
current in the ground. At vacancies in unaerated
areas corrosion can appear at a speed of up to
more than one-tenth of a millimeter per year.
V
V


Pict. 2: Macrocell between pipeline and reinforced concrete foundation
Reinforced concrete
foundation
Contact
Defect in the
coating
Fe
++
Cathode Anode
Corrosion
Clay
(unaerated)
Sand
(aerated)
-500mV CSE -600mV CSE
U = 100mV
2e
-
Stray Current Corrosion
Railway tracks are connected electrically conduc-
tive with the ground by the roadbed. As a conse-
quence part of the current which fows back in the
rails streams as stray current into the soil.
For the simple reason that current always takes
the path of the least resistance, it uses metal in-
stallations, such as pipelines or tubings, concrete
reinforcement and cables on its way through the
ground.
Alternating Current Corrosion
Pipelines, that are led due to local conditions (e.g.
mountains, densely built-up areas) underneath or
close to high-voltage overhead lines, are greatly
infuenced by alternating currents.
Those induced alternating currents can not only
cause enormous corrosion damages at pipelines
but also dangerous high contact voltages that re-
quire special safety and protection measures.
Both in the case of stray current corrosion and
alt ernating current corrosion it is necessary to
install not only an active cathodic corrosion
pro tec ion system but also a polarisation cell, that
shu nts h azardous voltages to ground. Only in
Due to the polarity of the railway feeding-in (posi-
tive pole at overhead electrical line and negative
pole at track) stray current leaves mainly close to
transformer substations and causes there a loss
of material that leads soon to pitting corrosion.
this way any danger for man and material can be
avoided.

Pict. 3: Stray current affect on metallic pipelines Pict. 4: Electrically inducted infuences on pipelines
Current entry
Current leakage
corrosion
Rail
Overhead electrical line
Rectifer
(+)
(-)
Corrosion Corrosion
The principle of CCP
There are two possibilities for designing an active
corrosion protection system of earthburried pipe-
lines: Cathodic protection with impressed current
or galvanic anodes.
V&C offers both methods, however, it prefers wor-
king with an impressed current protection system
for earthburried structures.
Cathodic protection with an impressed current
protection system
An impressed current system uses - in compari-
son to a galvanic anode system - current which is
produced by a rectifer and transmitted by foreign
recording of the state of the pipeline and thereby
possible irregularities can be immediately recog-
nised and remedied.
Cathodic protection with an impressed current protection system
current anodes to the earthburried object to be
protected.
The advantage of this method lies primarily in
the possibility that the output voltage can be re-
gulated depending on the soil resistance and the
protecting current requirements of the pipeline.
Furthermore cathodic corrosion protection with
an impressed current system enables automatic
The anodes which are used for the protective cur-
rent supply can be built horizontally or vertically in
the ground. Depending on the local surrounding
conditions there are primarily FeSi anodes used,
either single or pre-fnished as canister anode with
backfll.
The effectiveness of the cathodic protection sy-
stem is monitored through potential mapping
Schutzstrom
(-) (+)
220 V ~
pipeline
cathode
FeSi-anode in
coke-backfll
Galvanic anodes have a livetime of maximum 20
years and have to be changed at the end of this
time. However, in contrast to impressed current
systems galvanic anode systems are less expen-
sive.
Cathodic protection with magnesium anodes
Schutzstrom
Rohrleitung
Kathode
Magnesium
Anode
(+) (-)
through permanent reference cells at measuring
points and then sent to the rectifer station for an
internal comparison with preset thresholds. The
cabel connections of the pipeline, rectifer and re-
ference electrode come together at the measuring
station too.
Cathodic corrosion protection with a galvanic
anode system
For smaller objects or those where a power sup-
ply with rectifer is diffcult (e.g. in less conductive
grounds) cathodic protection with galvanic anodes
is used. The method is based on the difference
between the anode material and the object to be
For the reduction of the monitoring resistance of
the anodes in the ground V&C uses anodes pre-
fnished in sacs with backfll.
protected. As the anode material is not as pre-
cious as the metal of the pipeline, current fows
automatically from the anode to the pipeline be-
cause of the voltage gradient.
The required number and size of anodes depend
on the size of the object to be protected, the spe-
cifc soil resistance and the planned term of pro-
tection.
V&C Rectifers
The rectifers of V&C are custom-build and in
conformity to international norms and safety stan-
dards. They range from a simple, manually adju-
stable protection rectifer up to a fully automatic
regulating rectifer station with remote control for
the monitoring of several or complex objects.
Maintenance and Monitoring
The performance of a cathodic corrosion pro-
tection system is proven through adherence to
standards and guidelines of prewritten criteria. In
addition cathodic protection plants have to be mo-
nitored regulary. A complete monitoring system
consists of reference electrodes, measuring de-
vices, measuring points or a wireless remote data
transmission system.
V&C offers its customers the maintenance of
corrosion protection systems with wireless data
transmission and remote recording of the data.
The data are transferred via GSM network and
can then be evaluated comfortably in the offce. In
this way a permanent monitoring of the protection
plants is guaranteed and possible failures can be
removed immediately.
Remote monitoring system via GSM network
In addition V&C has a well-skilled and experienced
staff team who can carry out commissioning and
maintenance measurements on site.
Example of an automatic regulating protection rectifer with remote
control
Kontakt:
V&C Kathodischer Korrosionsschutz Ges.m.b.H.
Josef Perger-Str. 2/A-05
A-3031 Pressbaum
Tel.: +43 (0)2233 57 771
Fax: +43 (0)2233 57 771 -15
offce.engineering@vc-austria.com
www.vc-austria.com